Agents Of The New Creation

John 1:40-42

Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). (John 1:42)

IT’S EASY TO HAVE HARSH THOUGHTS and even unkind words for people who are not living up to our expectations. We make all sorts of judgments—some of them true, some of them not, and most of them beyond our abilities and our calling—about the behavior and attitudes of the people around us. For a people of grace, we can be awfully ungracious. We lament a world gone wrong and become its accusers. We see people for what they are doing rather than who they really are.

We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:16 that we are called to see people according to the Spirit, not according to a human point of view. It may be difficult for a human not to have a human point of view, but we have been given deeper vision. We are given the task of seeing like Jesus, who looked past the brash impulsiveness of Simon and called him Peter, meaning “rock.” We are expected to be like our Father, who instead of seeing only a terrorist named Saul saw an apostle who would take on a Gentile name and reach the hearts of pagans. As people of a new name (Revelation 2:17), we are to see others with their new “name” too—their true identity, their potential among those who are redeemed. We are to leave behind the petty judgments of this world and speak life, hope, and truth into lives that need the newness of God. We are agents of the new creation.

When we treat people according to their potential rather than their past, we become catalysts for God’s work in their lives. Something happens in the spiritual realm when a believer chooses to see the unseen and walk by faith. The past is undone and a new identity breaks through. It may take time, but the process begins. The inner life of a person of faith transforms the outer world far more effectively than we realize. People are waiting for someone to see the positive within them. Choose that vision, speak accordingly, and watch God work to change your world.

{Lord, retrain my eyes to see the treasure in the people around me—even when the treasure is hidden. May my vision and words draw people into their true identity for your glory. Amen.